• Boxing

Roach: Khan capable of beating Mayweather

ESPN staff
January 31, 2014
Floyd Mayweather Jr remains unbeaten in his career © AP
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Freddie Roach believes Amir Khan has all the attributes to become the first boxer to defeat Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Reports of a bout between Mayweather Jr and Khan continue to circulate, with a fight on May 3 at Las Vegas being talked about.

Mayweather Jr has not tasted a loss in all 45 fights he has taken part in, with Saul Alvarez the latest to fall to the American last September.

Several opponents have been named for Mayweather Jr, but Roach, who trains Manny Pacquiao, says if Khan was to be the next fight for Mayweather Jr, he could cause the unbeaten boxer some problems.

"That's not an easy fight. I've always said Amir has the right style to beat Floyd if he fights correctly and doesn't stay in the pocket too long," Roach told Ringside Toe 2 Toe Podcast.

"I always thought he could beat him with his speed. I think he's faster than Mayweather and that's what it takes to beat him. Floyd might have his hands full on the night."

Roach added that Pacquiao is still keen to fight Mayweather Jr, despite disagreements over blood tests and the split of the purse.

"Of course he does. It's the biggest fight in the world for him," Roach replied when asked whether his boxer still harboured hopes of taking on Mayweather Jr.

"We all want that fight and Manny especially. Manny's offered a 60-40 split, a blood test, no problems whatever Mayweather wants. We've agreed to anything and he just keeps ignoring us."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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